Once Again into the Breach - Mike (J) vs. tc464 (A)

[Mike Solli]

State of the IJN

The IJN is actually in pretty good shape considering it’s January 1944. Here is what it I have:

CV: 9 – Hiryu, Junyo sunk
CVL: 7 – Zuiho sunk
CVE: 4 – Unyo sunk
BB: 12 – all afloat
CA: 16 – Kinugasa, Kako sunk
CL: 24 – all afloat
DD: 111 – 18 sunk
TB: 0 – 1 sunk
APD: 0 – 4 sunk
xAP: 57 – 5 sunk
AK: 19 – all afloat
AKV: 2 – 1 sunk
xAK: 439 – 110 sunk
xAKL: 106 – 71 sunk
AO: 23 – 5 sunk
TK: 143 – 23 sunk
SS: 64 – 49 sunk
SSX: 14 – 31 sunk
AMC: 4 – 5 sunk
AS: 5 – 1 sunk
AD: 7 – 1 sunk
AV: 6 – 3 sunk
AR: 8 – all afloat
ARD: 1 – only one
AG: 20 – all afloat
AKE: 8 – all afloat
CM: 22 – 2 sunk
CMc: 15 – all afloat
AM: 6 - 1 sunk
ACM: 87 – 3 sunk
AMc: 39 – 1 sunk
DMS: 4 – 4 sunk
E: 62 – 18 sunk
PC: 5 – all afloat
PB: 160 – 50 sunk
SC: 112 – 13 sunk
MTB: 24 – 1 sunk
ML: 3 – all afloat
LSD: 2 – 1 sunk
LST: 1 – all afloat

Allied reported losses:

CV – 3 (Bunker Hill, Wasp, Saratoga)
CVL – 2 (Cowpens, Princeton, probably another as well)
CVE – 3
BB – 7
BC – 1
CA – 5
CL – 13
CLAA – 2
DD – 55 (including 11 Fletchers)
DE – 11
APD – 4
APA – 10
LSI(L) – 1
AP – 3
xAP – 39
AKA – 7
AK – 7
xAK – 183
xAKL – 94
AO – 2
TK – 27
SS – 56
AG – 4
AVP – 8
AVD – 1
AS – 2
CM – 3
DM – 1
DMS – 8
AM – 52
ACM – 2
YMS – 29
AMc – 23
PG – 8
PC – 2
SC – 17
PT – 26
MTB – 8
MGB – 13
ML – 14
YP – 1
HDML – 13
LST – 31

So, I really haven’t taken a lot of losses in the IJN. Of the carriers, only Zuikaku is out of commission and in repairs for another 4 months. Ted has had quite a few of his carriers take damage but survive. I’m not sure how many are currently operational. My estimate is that few are in good shape right now, but I need to go back and update my spreadsheet that manages damage to his capital ships. I’ll pass that info on when I figure it out.

[Mike Solli]

Remaining ship production:

CV: Kasagi, Aso, Ikoma accelerated and arriving at the end of March 44. Taiho scheduled to arrive 2 Dec 44. I’ll probably accelerate her so expect her to arrive in the fall.
CVL: None
CVE: None
CL: Sakawa – 30 Nov 44. I’ll probably accelerate her so expect her in the fall of 44.
DD: 92 with 6 accelerated. Accelerate as I can.
APD: 28
xAP: last one in 13 days.
xAK: 9 – StdA – will convert to TK.
AO: 2 in 68 days
TK: 4
SS: 36
SST: 8
E: 74
MTB/MGB: 123
ML: 95
SC: 44
LSD: 1
LST: 49

[Mike Solli]

7 Jan 44

Sub War

Allied subs are congregating around the Marianas, but so are my ASW, both air and naval. The DD Shiranui managed to hit the Runner once along with a number of near misses. She’s reported to have been badly damaged. As long as she leaves, I’m happy.

5 Fleet

The sentai of Sallies struck a base force at Dutch Harbor. In retaliation, the 6 B-17s hit some ground troops, and shot down an Oscar. The pilot survived this time. Neither ground attack was very effective.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Truk was pummeled again. I’m actually surprised that the steady stream of ships I send there are able to get troops out with impunity. One and 2 ship TFs seem to do the trick.

SRA

Things are getting interesting at Selaroe (the dot hex just SW of Saumlaki. I saw a 4 ship TF with 2 alleged APDs a few hexes SE of there yesterday and figured he was going for one of the controlled bases that was built up to one extent or other. I was wrong (I think). Two TFs (the APD TF, now showing 5 ships, and another DD TF showing 4 ships) showed up at Selaroe, but no troops were landed. I also see a sub in the hex.

There were 2 Nell attacks, each of 13 planes. The morning attack ran into 2 Kittyhawk IVs, who got 2 of the Nells before being driven off. (The Saumlaki CAP was set at 0 range. ) The remaining planes missed with their torpedoes. In the afternoon, another 13 Nells (from the same daitai based at Ambon) attacked the same TF, missing again and losing a plane to flak. One of the 3 crew survived wounded. The DD TF is composed of:

DD Harrison
DD Bache
DD Sigsbee
DD John Rodgers

They’re all Fletchers, which is what I suspected. At Boela, I have a TF composed of Naka and 4x Asashios, let by RADM Tanaka. I’m sending them into the hex hoping they catch the APDs and NOT the Fletchers. Poor ole Naka is the sacrificial lamb. I’m hoping she’s the target giving the DDs a chance to launch their Long Lances. We’ll see. In addition, I have 2 RO class subs nearby that are entering the hex and I’m flying in the 2 Raiding Regiment from Ambon as well. Finally, one of the two midget subs guarding Saumlaki is moving to Selaroe. The daitai of Nells, along with a chutai of Nells, 32 total, have the naval attack mission set. There are 42 Tonys on CAP in Saumlaki with a 1 hex range to cover the Nells and transports attacking tomorrow.

Oh yeah, 7 Hellcats swept Saumlaki losing 2 of their number to no Japanese losses.

Another surface TF of 3 CA, 3 CL and 3 DD is leaving Babeldaob to head down here. They’ll arrive at Ambon in 2 days. Tomorrow, I’ll send MKB 2, 2 CVLs & 2 CVEs, containing 69 Zeros, 6 Judies and 21 Kates & Jills. Not a lot of combat power, but enough fighters to protect itself and the bombers. It’ll take them 3 days to be in striking range.

Moonlight is 96%, which is good since he has radar and I don’t.

It should be interesting tomorrow.

Burma

It was a good day in the air here. Four Hurricanes and 3 Mustangs were shot down at the cost of a single Tojo and its pilot.

Not much else going on. I’m sending my three Helen sentai (still being used for bombing missions in this AO) to bomb the airfield at Kalemyo tomorrow. I want to slow down the airfield expansion there. I’m also sending 2 full strength divisions after the base. I’m not sure I’ll go through with it, but I have plenty of time to think about it. They’re crawling through the jungle.

China

Nothing to report. The army is moving and the bombers are bombing.

Other Stuff

Ki-43-IV R&D advanced to 4/44 and will become operational 2/44. This will free up 4 R&D factories.

Ki-84r R&D advanced to 3/44 and will become operational around 1/24/44. Yay! This will free up 6 R&D factories. The Ki-84a operational factories are shut off with 66 in the pool and 7 and 1/3 sentai currently using this model. The units have a total of 277 in operation for a grand total of 343. I’ll continue to use the “a” model in Burma and the Aleutians and upgrade those in the Marianas to the “r” model (150 + 16 spares). That should take a month to do (operational factories produce 6 per day). Yes, I’ll increase that. I have to decide whether to pay the supply cost or convert some of the R&D factories to operational.

[Mike Solli]

8 Jan 44

Sub War

I have flying boats at Christmas Island IO and Cocos Islands. They’ve been there a long time. They’re actually who noticed a transport convoy a year or so ago that I was able to ambush with MKB and some cruisers and pretty much destroy. Ted told me later that it was hauling the 9 Aussie Division, which was practically destroyed. Any, I have a couple of small xAKL convoys that haul supply to those islands and bring back the resources at Christmas Island as a bonus. Anyway, the Tactician (weird name for a sub) put a couple of torpedoes into a Daigen Class xAKL turning her into toothpicks.

In retaliation, Ch 39 damaged the Puffer off the coast near Miri.

5 Fleet

The Sally sentai gave that poor base force in Dutch Harbor a headache again. They’re going for a port attack tomorrow to see what ships are in the harbor.

Four Oscars met 3 B-17Es over Umnak today. The B-17s did no damage and I didn’t lose any Oscars for a change. I’m going to try hitting those B-17s with Tojos tomorrow. The third sentai has been outfitted with Franks. Once most of them repair (in a few days), I’ll try using them against the bombers.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

The usual Allied bombing sorties and sweeps occurred at Hollandia, Gasmata and Rabaul. I had sent the I-40 to Rabaul as a transport to see if she could actually pull out a squad or two. She’s actually loading a tiny slice of the 53 JNAF AF Unit. I would have rather pulled out some infantry, but that wouldn’t work. I may convert a sub or two to SST to begin the slow process of rescuing some of the cut off garrisons.

The same ole Allied bombing of Truk’s airfield is keeping the port damage pegged at 100%. But, the airfield runway damage is slowly decreasing (down from 20% yesterday to 15% today. I’m flying transports in to get troops out, along with the fast transports and a couple regular transports. I’m getting the important stuff out to the Marianas (slowly) to either add to the garrisons there or to be moved somewhere else.

SRA

So, I expected all this action at Selarow, just SW of Saumlaki. Well, nothing happened. All the Allied ships are gone. I dropped a chunk of the Raiding Regiment there. I’ll drop some supplies for them tomorrow. I’m going to find a Naval Guard or something small I can plop there and pull the paratroopers out to reconstitute a flying reserve. I have transports stationed at Kendari and Ambon in enough quantity to transport a division from each location if needed.

I’m going to station MKB 2 and a surface fleet at Ambon just to help guard this part of the world. Hopefully, it’ll be enough to slow down any Allied incursion down here.

Burma

The attack on Kalemyo’s airfield was a success, sort of, but at a cost. Twenty Franks escorted 36 Helens on a bombing run and were opposed by 8 Allied CAP. Three Franks were lost protecting the bombers, and they did minor damage to the airfield. No Allied fighters were lost.

Then 20 more Helens went in unescorted, losing 2 to enemy fighters and doing just a few points of runway damage.

Finally, 23 Helens went in for a final bombing run losing 1 bomber and doing minor damage.

When it was all over, I lost 3 bomber crews, 3 fighter pilots KIA/MIA and one more wounded (one of them from below) and Kalemyo’s airfield is at 10% damage. Not worth it at this point. I’ll continue to sweep until the fighters are gone. Then I’ll try bombing again.

Seven remaining Mustangs swept Shwebo and were met by 3 Franks from nearby CAP. Only 5 Mustangs went home at a cost of 1 Frank. Those P-51A models really suck. We’ll see if any show up tomorrow.

China

More daily bombing of the cut off, starving Chinese that remain. The Japanese army is moving to kill them off for good.

I’m in the process of deciding who is going where to form the final defense against the Soviets and the British in the final phase of the war.

Other Stuff

Reinforcement: ML G-204. A 7 kt motor launch with a couple of torpedo tubes. Wow, talk about scraping the bottom of the barrel. These MLs and the multitude of MTBs I get will be stationed all over in divisions of 6 boats. Hopefully, they’ll get a hit or two before being obliterated.

The Francis bomber R&D advanced to 8/44. I anticipate getting them in 6/44. (I have only 1 R&D factory working on these.)

[Mike Solli]

9 Jan 44

Sub War

About 8 hexes SW of San Francisco, the I-24 caught and sank an xAK. Normally, it would just be a blip on the radar, and I thought so until I went through my ritual of checking everything after the turn and saw that 23 SBD-3s were lost on the ground. I have a sneaky suspicion that the cargo ship was carrying a squadron of Dauntlesses. My subs still have teeth on occasion. Nice!

5 Fleet

The Sally sentai bombed Dutch Harbor’s port doing minor damage but putting 2x 250 kg bombs into the LSI(L) Genorchy leaving her burning and heavily damaged.

4 Fleet

The DD Chew tried to do some recon at Wake Island and found a depth charge. She’s limping home. A midget sub missed her with her torpedoes, unfortunately. It’s the small victories…

There is a US carrier TF (179 fighters, 79 bombers and 9 auxiliary) 4 hexes SW of Kwajalein. After 5 squadron sized Hellcat sweeps, 3 squadrons of DBs (2 Dauntless and 1 Helldiver) escorted by another Hellcat squadron hit the troops on Kwajalein doing little damage and losing one of each DB to flak.

SE Fleet

The daily bombing of Truk went after the destroyed port. Damage there is 100-100-14, with the runway damage very slowly repairing.

SRA

Nine Hellcats got the jump on my Tonys at Saumlaki today, shooting down 4 Tonys (1 KIA) for the loss of 2 Hellcats. There was no bombing today.

Burma

Nothing to report today.

China

A lot of movement of ground troops and a lot of bombing of the Chinese dregs.

Other Stuff

Nothing exciting.

[Mike Solli]

10 Jan 44

Sub War

I spotted a TF heading toward Truk and put some subs in its way. The I-183 caught it and ate a depth charge for her effort. She’s limping home with her damage at 41-36(15)-0-0. The TF was composed of 3 CA, 2 CL and 6 DD.

The RO-44, patrolling near Kavieng, was caught by an ASW TF and sunk. I think I’m being too aggressive with my subs. The idea in this area is to catch sight of an invasion TF so my carriers can catch it before the troops land.

5 Fleet

A small TF was spotted 8 hexes SE of Kodiak Island. It has 20 fighter and 7 bombers. A CVE, maybe? It’s heading west. I’m trying to put a few more subs in front of it to get more intel.

4 Fleet

Today, 6 Hellcat squadrons individually swept Kwajalein. I have no planes in the Marianas at all. The 3 DB squadrons bombed the port later sinking an ACM.

SE Fleet

The TF that the I-183 found hit Truk overnight (turned out it was composed of 4 CA, 2 CL and 11 DD). It caught and sank 2 PB on fast transport missions.

Later in the day, 4 Hellcats swept Saumlaki meeting 26 Tonys. Both sides lost one (1 Japanese KIA).

There was more bombing of Truks port. The runway damage decreased to 11 with the service and port damage pegged at 100.

SRA

My little surface TF (led by Raizo Tanaka) of 1 CL and 4 DD was supposed to merge with 3 CA, 3 CL and 3 DD. They did, but after they caught up with 4 Fletcher class DDs a couple hexes SW of Saumlaki. My ships missed with everything and the Fletchers managed only to hit Asashio with 2x 5” shells. My DDs managed to use all their torpedoes and most of their fuel (CL Naka barely got into the fight). After the turn was run and the two TFs merged, I detached the 4 DDs to send home for repairs and/or fuel and sent the CA TF (with the addition of Naka) to hunt the Fletchers tomorrow.

Burma

Twenty-three Franks swept Kalemyo meeting 8 enemy fighters and shooting down 2.

Over Mandalay, 10 Franks met 8 Mustangs, shooting down 3 of the Mustangs.

Three more Mustangs swept Shwebo, losing another one.

China

One Chinese unit in Kanshien died from bombing or attrition yesterday. There are now 20 remaining there.

Other Stuff

Reinforcements: MTB G-540
SS RO-45, just in time to replace her sister ship, RO-44
xAK Rokkosan Maru, Std-A, will convert to a TK
39 Field AA Battalion – rebuilt, will stay in the Home Islands
67 JNAF AF Unit – Southern Army, not sure where it’s going yet

[Mike Solli]

11 Jan 44

Sub War

The RO-111 tried to catch the US TF that hit Truk. That didn't work out so well. She ate a depth charge and his headed home. Her damage is 23-61(28)-2(1)-0.

The I-27 was nosing around off Rockhamption and ran into a TF of an LSD escorted by a DE. She took one DC moderately damaging her with damage at 31-56(34)-0-0. She’s headed back to port.

5 Fleet

The Sally sentai bombed Dutch Harbor’s port doing minor damage that was easily repaired.

I can still see that TF with what appears to be a CVE is still tooling around to the east of Dutch Harbor. My subs have not yet intercepted them.

4 Fleet

The DD Schley bombarded Eniwetok causing light damage that was easily repaired. I think Ted is just checking to see if there is anything undefended that he can take easily.

Today, 6 Hellcat squadrons swept Kwajalein from the US carriers still hanging around there.

SE Fleet

The US cruiser TF that was hanging around Truk found the minefield. CA Louisville and DD Dale each ate a mine. I doubt either sinks. The TF went ahead and bombarded Truk, and paid a small price.

The TF bombarded Truk causing no damage (there’s little to damage anymore). All 4 CA and 2 CL took damage from shore batteries with Louisville and Portland on fire. The damage isn’t severe but there were some odds and ends on the ships that were destroyed.

The bombers came in again, and went after the port again, losing 2 of their number to flak.

SRA

Off Saumlaki, Tanaka’s CA TF caught the 4 Fletchers sinking 2 and damaging the other 2. All 3 CAs and one DD took minor damage. Nice!

Four Hellcats swept Saumlaki losing 2 for no Japanese loss. I thought this was going to be it down here for today like previous days, but nope. So it began…

Twenty-three PB4Y-1s hit Ambon’s port. All that there was defending was a chutai of Tojos. They managed to shoot down 2 bombers for no loss. The remaining bombers went in causing no damage to the port but hitting a PB and 2 xAKs.

Then it started a hex west of Saumlaki, where Tanaka’s CA TF ended for the day. I’m pretty sure the planes all came from Darwin, which is maxed out with its airfield at 9 and port at 6. Anyway, 2 Dauntlesses and 16 Avengers escorted by 4 Corsairs were met by 26 Tonys out of Saumlaki. The Corsairs didn’t stand a chance against that many Tonys piloted by excellent pilots. Two of the Corsairs were shot down, then they tore into the bombers shooting down an SBD and 7 Avengers before they got through to the ships. No ships were hit and the remaining SBD and Avengers were shot down on the way home. No Japanese fighters were lost. Banzai!

The next wave was 15 Dauntlesses and 6 Beaufort VIIIs escorted by 12 Kittyhawk IVs. Fifteen Tonys were still available to counter them. Seven Kittyhawks, 3 Dauntlesses (+1 from flak) and a Beaufort were shot down. One Tony was lost (pilot KIA). No ships were hit.

Then, 7 Tonys met 13 Dauntlesses, shooting down 11 with flak getting another. No ships were hit.

Finally, 3 Tonys met 10 Beaufort VIIIs, shooting down one with flak getting another. Again, no ships were hit.

Burma

Two of the 6 remaining enemy fighters over Kalemyo were shot down for no Japanese loss.

China

Bombing and moving, moving and bombing.

Other Stuff

It was a pretty nice day in the air. About 54 enemy planes were shot down for the loss of a single Frank and its pilot. I’ll take it!

Reinforcements: TK Akikawa Maru, Std-C
38 Field AA Battalion, rebuilt, will stay in the Home Islands

The B7A2 Grace R&D advanced to 7/44 (will become operational 3/44).
The N1K5-J George R&D advanced to 10/44 (will become operational 4/44).

[Mike Solli]

12 Jan 44

Sub War

I lost another sub today near Kavieng, where I’m still trying to get some early intel on an invasion up the PNG coast. It was that damn bombardment TF that hit Truk. RO-60 was taken out by DCs.

Just off the coast of Soerabaja, an ASW group caught the O23 and hit her with a DC.

5 Fleet

Something interesting happened here today. I never saw this report before. My Sallies bombed Dutch Harbor again, doing little damage, just some disabled squads. I see 2 US TFs that may both be carriers. Intel says one is at Akutan Island (the hex NE of Dutch Harbor. (I have a sub investigating it tomorrow.) Anyway, it says there are 24/14/3 planes in the TF. The second TF is 4 hexes due E of Dutch Harbor with 0/0/1 planes. Hmm…

Anyway, when my Sallies bombed, at the bottom of the report had this comment:

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..

Very interesting. I have available a D4Y3 Judy chutai at Adak. If either of those TFs moves west of Umnak, I’ll have them try an attack. I also have a sentai of fighters broken down into chutai of Franks, Tojos, and Oscar IIIas. They can all escort the Judies. Not sure it would be successful, but you never know. A 500 kg bomb can be a very nice surprise.

Adak is pretty well defended with a division, a 90 mm mortar regiment, two 15 cm artillery regiments, a base force with 24 CD guns and other odds and ends. Yeah, I know, it can be bypassed, but if he does choose to invade there, it would be costly for him. The forts are at level 6 too. (I apparently was fort happy in this game.)

4 Fleet

Five Hellcat squadrons from the carriers and 1 Corsair squadron from Mili swept Kwajalein today. My intel says there are 34/18/2 planes at Mili and 211/118/9 in the carrier TF.

Then there was an attack on Kwajalein harbor with 4 DB (split between Helldiver and Dauntless) squadrons and an Avenger squadron, escorted by a Hellcat squadron. They managed to put a little damage (3 points) on the port and hit the ACM there doing light damage to her. The port damage is immaterial because the forts are already at level 6. The only concern is that there is only 2929 supply left.

There is only a NG plus a couple of companies from a base force and such, plus 20 CD guns (and a couple of midget subs). I don’t really know why he would invade Kwajalein. He’s already got Mili and it’s maxed out at 4 for port and airfield. Kwajalein is at 3(2) port and 1(0) airfield. The fort is at level 6, of course. My last sub in the area just hit the road for a lack of fuel.

Finally, I had 2 AMcs at Kwajalein that tried to sneak out but were caught by Avengers and sunk.

He can spend all the time he wants here with his carriers. I know exactly where they are and his planes are getting fatigue and his ships are getting sys damage.

SE Fleet

Same ole bombing of Hollandia and Truk. A couple of flak losses to the Allies and more damage to the bases.

I have a 45 plane Nell daitai that has the best naval 2E bomber pilots available (all 70+ experience and really good naval torpedo and bombing stats). I had them set to go after the Truk bombardment TF and they never flew. Figures...

SRA

A handful of enemy fighters swept Saumlaki trading 2 fighters each (2 Japanese WIA).

Four PB4Y-1s went after the port (causing no damage). A chutai of Tojos went after them, shooting one down (those Tojos with really good pilots are still relevant!) and flak got another.

Later, 6 more Liberators showed up, got a single hit on the port (easily repaired) and managed to shoot down one of the Tojos (pilot WIA). The only fighters I have in the region is a chutai of Rexes. They’re now at Ambon to help out the Tojos.

I have more fighters entering the region.

Half a dozen unescorted Beauforts went after Saumlaki’s airfield unsuccessfully. The Tonys were also unable to shoot any of them down.

Burma

Well, Ted reinforced Kalemyo with a bunch of fighters. My 10 sweeping Franks ran into a buzz saw of enemy fighters, 33 to be exact. They didn’t stand a chance. I lost 5 planes to only 2 enemy fighters.

Ted started sweeping Mandalay. First three Spitfires arrived, losing 2 to a single Frank lost. It was the same sentai than swept Kalemyo. Between the 2 attacks, I lost 5 KIA/MIA and 1 WIA. Then 5 Mustangs showed up and 3 of them were shot down.

China

Same thing. Moving and bombing…

Other Stuff

Reinforcements: xAK Kenan Maru, Std-A, will convert to a TK
ML G-205, another motor launch that has a couple of torpedo tubes strapped to her

Well, Ted got a little retribution for the losses he got yesterday. Overall, the Japanese lost 9 aircraft and the Allies lost 11, plus a few lost to flak.

I filled out my carrier plane losses from the carrier battles of a few years (days) ago. I still have plenty of pilots and planes with one exception. I don’t ran out of D4Y3 planes in the pool and can use about half a dozen more. I am producing 2 a day. I can convert a daitai to D4Y2 if I want. I have plenty of them and still have 84 Ha-60 engines in the pool. I made a mistake a long time ago and produced far more than I needed so I’m still producing the Y2 model along with the Y3 model until the Y4 becomes operational around 3/8/44.

I am sending MKB 1 ( Ryuho, Mizuho, Hosho, Kaiyo and Chuyo) to the southern SRA to help protect that region. Combined, they have 81 fighters, 18 dive bombers and 33 torpedo planes. MKB2 will eventually head up to be stationed at Etorofu while KB 1 & 2 will remain at Babeldaob. Here’s their estimated compositions:

TF: Fighters, dive bombers, torpedo bombers

MKB 2: 69, 18, 27
KB 1: 138, 54, 81
KB 2: 144, 63, 54

This doesn’t include Zuikaku, which will be repaired by mid May 44. Also, in late April, I get Kasagi, Aso and Ikoma. They have a combined total of 144 fighters, 63 dive bombers and 54 torpedo bombers. I’ll probably rearrange KB, but there will be 3 (or maybe 4) groups.

[Chickenboy]

What's the latest here, Mike? To say I've been out of it vis a vis. this subforum would be an understatement.

[ian77]

But, but, but.......... I need to know what happened! 238 pages and ends in Jan 1944.

I hope both are fit and well.